Overview
Amazon Global Logistics helps you book transportation from China directly to an Amazon fulfillment center. By booking transportation on Seller Central, you can compare and select the best shipping mode and shipping speed.
To onboard with Amazon Global Logistics, you must set up a payment method and create an Importer of Record (IOR) profile to become eligible to book shipments on Seller Central. This process should take approximately 30 minutes to complete, with Amazon taking three business days to review and approve.
What you'll need before you begin
- Contact info for your Importer of Record (IOR): You will act as the importer of record (IOR) or declarant for inventory. When you sign up for Amazon Global Logistics, you will need to create an IOR profile using your company's details. Amazon Global Logistics will coordinate inspections, loading, and transfer from your warehouse to the destination fulfillment center, and handle export and import customs clearance through Amazon-assigned customs brokers.
- For US IOR: Continuous customs bond: A customs bond is a contract guaranteeing the payment of import duties, taxes, and fees to US Customs and Border Protection. Shipments into the US via Amazon Global Logistics require a continuous customs bond on behalf of the importer of record (IOR). This bond does not cover customs clearance fees. If you do not have an active continuous customs bond, Amazon can request one for you in Step 3: Set up importer of record (IOR) and customs bond (US).
- For US IOR: Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Customs Assigned Importer Number (CAIN): You will need to provide your EIN or CAIN to US Customs and Border Protection as your importer number. If you are a non-resident importer without a CAIN, Amazon can request one for you in Step 3: Set up importer of record (IOR) and customs bond (US).
- Company officer contact information: A company officer who can authorize Amazon to conduct customs-related business for the importer. They will need to sign a power of attorney via email.
Onboarding Process
To book transportation with Amazon Global Logistics, you will need to set up your payment method and create an Importer of Record (IOR) profile on Seller Central.
Step 1: Navigate to the Amazon Global Logistics Seller Central Portal
To set up your profile, go to the Amazon Global Logistics portal and log in using your existing credentials. Select the "Set-up profile" link to choose your payment method and create an Importer of Record profile.
[Image Description: Screenshot of Amazon Seller Central's Amazon Global Logistics portal, displaying options to get a shipping estimate, take a quick tour, or set up a profile. It also shows enrollment status questions.]
Step 2: Choose your payment method
USD is the default payment method for your Seller Central account. To set up payment, simply select USD as the preferred payment method in the "Payment method" tab. No further action is required.
[Image Description: Screenshot of the Amazon Global Logistics profile setup page, showing the "Payment method" tab with options to "Pay in USD" and "Pay in CNY".]
Step 3: Setup Importer of Record (IOR)
Note: A video guide is available. Click here for video guide.
From the setup page, go to the "Importer of Record (IOR)" section and select "Add new importer of record (IOR)".
[Image Description: Screenshot of Amazon Seller Central showing the "Importer of Record (IOR)" tab and the "Add new importer of record (IOR)" button.]
Enter or request your Importer Number
If you select the United States as your importer country, you will be asked if you have an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Customs Assigned Importer Number (CAIN). If you have one of these numbers, select "Yes, the importer has an EIN or CAIN" and enter those details.
[Image Description: Screenshot of the "New Importer of Record (IOR)" form, specifically the section asking about EIN or CAIN, with radio buttons for "Yes" and "No", and a text field for entering the number. A pop-up box shows an example of finding the EIN/CAIN.]
If you do not have an importer number (either an EIN or a CAIN), select "No, the importer does not have a CAIN. Request one for me." Make sure to check the box next to "I'm sure I want Amazon to request a CAIN for me to proceed." This will allow Amazon to request a CAIN for the importer. When you're finished, select "Next".
[Image Description: Screenshot showing the "No, the importer does not have CAIN. Request one for me." option selected, and the checkbox "I'm sure I want Amazon to request a CAIN for me" checked. The "Next" button is highlighted.]
Enter the company details of your IOR in English
Select "Add a new importer of record (IOR)" and the form below will appear. Enter all the data fields, then select "Submit" to return to your Amazon Global Logistics profile.
⚠️ WARNING: Before you submit, check that the company name, address, and ID number match exactly as they appear on the Importer's business license, including capitalization, abbreviation, and spacing. Your account will be rejected if there are any discrepancies, causing delays to your account creation.
| Data | Definition |
|---|---|
| Country/region | The country/region where the Importer Entity is legally registered. |
| Importer company name | The legal registered company name for the Importer Entity. (Note: Use Latin characters only.) |
| Street address | The street address of the Importer Entity. |
| City | The city of the Importer Entity. |
| Zip code | The zip code of the Importer Entity. |
| Importer primary contact name | The name of the primary point of contact for the Importer Entity. |
| Importer phone number | The phone number of the primary point of contact for the Importer Entity. |
| Importer email address | The email address of the primary point of contact for the Importer Entity. |
[Image Description: Screenshot of the 'Importer entity contact' form in Amazon Seller Central, showing fields for company details, contact information, and address. Placeholder data is visible.]
Now the IOR you added will appear in the Importer entity contact dropdown. After you select the appropriate Importer entity contact, fill in the blank fields and questions below. Then select "Next".
NOTE: If your company is a US resident company, select the business type. For non-US resident companies, the business type will default to Corporation.
If your business has a registered trading name also known as DBA or "doing business as" name, select "yes". This is your business's assumed, trade, or brand name, which may differ from the parent legal entity. Ensure that the company name is correct, add a registered trading name if you have one, and make sure the correct mailing address is chosen.
[Image Description: Screenshot of the "New Importer of Record (IOR)" form showing the "Importer entity contact" dropdown, company name, DBA question, business type selection, and mailing address options. Placeholder data like "Test Company 456" is used.]
Enter your IOR power of attorney (POA) details
Select the POA signatory role from the dropdown. Then enter the name and email address of the POA signing officer.
If your IOR entity is based outside of the US, you will need to sign the Non-resident Corporate Certification (NRCC). Select a second officer role from the dropdown and enter the name and email address of your second officer.
NOTE: The POA signer and the second officer should be different people with different email addresses. If you have only one officer in your company as a non-US resident business, check "If you have only one officer, tick here and enter the details of a second employee instead." The POA and NRCC will be sent via DocuSign to your specified signatories' emails, not your Seller Central login email. The admin person creating this account should be aware and alert the Signatory that they should expect this e-contract.
[Image Description: Screenshot of the "New Importer of Record (IOR)" form showing the "IOR Power of Attorney (POA) Details" and "Non-resident Corporate Certification (NRCC) Details" sections with dropdowns and input fields for signatory roles, names, and email addresses.]
Enter customs bond details
If you have a customs bond, select "Yes". In the "How often will the IOR import in one year?" dropdown, select the number of times per year your IOR entity will be importing into the US. Then enter the email address to which we will send the final entry summaries.
If you do not have a continuous customs bond, select "No". In the "How often will the IOR import in one year?" dropdown, select the number of times per year your IOR entity will be importing into the US. Then enter the email address to which we will send the final entry summaries. Select "Buy bond".
[Image Description: Screenshot of the "New Importer of Record (IOR)" form showing the "Customs related information" section with questions about importing frequency and continuous customs bond, and an email field. A "Buy bond" button is visible.]
A bond purchase pop-up window will appear where you can enter all the necessary information, then select "Quote".
[Image Description: Screenshot of the customs bond purchase interface, detailing product descriptions, country of origin, estimated duties, and commodity regulations, with a prompt to "Quote".]
| Data | Definition |
|---|---|
| Product descriptions | Enter in brief product descriptions for the types of goods imported into the US. |
| Primary country your company imports from | Select the primary country of origin. |
| Expected import duties, taxes, and fees to be paid in the next calendar year. | Select either less than $500,000 USD or More than $500,000 USD. Provide the estimated amount of duties you expect to pay in the US over the next 12 months. This amount is based on the average duty rate of your products multiplied by the total value of the products you will import over the next 12 months. This estimate helps determine the amount of your customs bond. |
| Are any of your commodities subject to anti-dumping duties or countervailance? | Select whether the product is subject to anti-dumping regulations. If you don't know, select "Not sure". |
A quote for a one-year continuous bond will appear. After you review it, select "Confirm purchase".
NOTE: Payment for the purchase of a continuous customs Bond will be billed with your first shipment.
[Image Description: A pop-up showing a "Continuous bond price" of "350.00 USD*" and payment terms "Billed with first shipment". A "Confirm purchase" button is highlighted.]
Once Amazon Global Logistics has a copy of your bond (about five business days after the application is submitted), you will receive the bond details via the email you entered on page 16.
Submit your IOR details
Return to "Add new importer of record (IOR)" to see if the "Customs bond bought" message has appeared, then proceed to answer the remaining questions.
NOTE: Payment for the purchase of a continuous customs Bond will be billed with your first shipment.
If you selected "Yes" to the question "Has the IOR imported before?", you will have the option to have duties, taxes, and fees for shipments charged against an automated clearing house (ACH) account. This account would have been previously set up with US Customs and Border Protection, providing a Payer Unit Number (PUN). If you want to use this account, select "Yes" and then enter your PUN in the "Duty and tax account number" field.
Finally, enter an email address for the IOR where final entry summaries for the shipment should be sent. Then select "Next".
[Image Description: Screenshot of the "New Importer of Record (IOR)" form showing sections for "Has the IOR imported before?", "Does the IOR have a continuous customs bond?", "Duty and tax account number", and "Enter the email address to which the IOR would like final customs declarations (entry summaries) sent."]
Review the information for the IOR
If anything is incorrect, go back and correct it via the progress bar at the top of the screen or the "Previous" button at the bottom. If all entered details are correct, select "Confirm details".
NOTE: Once you confirm the details, you won't be able to change the IOR details until the IOR is reviewed by Amazon.
[Image Description: Screenshot of the "Review and confirm" stage of the IOR setup, displaying entered IOR details (Company name, address, contact info, POA details, NRCC details, customs bond status, email for summary). A "Confirm details" button is highlighted.]
Upload any supporting documents required for your IOR
Depending on your business type, you will be required to upload supporting documents to complete your IOR submission. If the company name is not in English on a Business license or any other document, enter the company name in English. A business license is preferred. If a business license isn't readily available, upload documentation that includes the company name (for example, a utility bill).
After you upload all your required documents, select "Submit".
NOTE: Only files smaller than 2 MB can be uploaded, in these formats: .docx, .doc, .xml, .jpg, .xlsx, .xls, .bmp, .pdf, .csv, and .png.
[Image Description: Screenshot showing the "Manage Importer Contact" section with status filters (All, Draft, Pending, Approved, Denied) and a table showing submitted importer details. A "Submit" button is visible.]
[Image Description: Screenshot showing "Manage Importer Contact" with the status "Your IOR has been submitted." and "Pending".]
Once submitted, the POA and NRCC (if required) will be emailed to the signatories. After you DocuSign the POA and NRCC (if required), verification can take 2-3 business days for approval. If your IOR is rejected, you'll receive an email from AGL-Compliance-Onboarding@amazon.com to see the reasons why it wasn't compliant. Once your POA and NRCC have been approved along with your IOR, you can start booking with Amazon Global Logistics on Seller Central. To create a shipment, go to Step 4: Create a Shipment.
Onboarding Terms
Before you onboard with Amazon Global Logistics on Shipper Central, make sure that you understand these terms.
Importer of record (IOR)
An importer of record (IOR) is usually required when shipments of your inventory enter another country. This is optional for Sellers who opt to use their own broker only. However, if you choose Amazon Global Logistics as your broker, IOR and EORI are required for shipments to the US and EU, respectively. For US-bound shipments, you will need the IOR number and for EU-bound shipments, the EORI can be from any EU member state.
Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to business entities located in the United States for identification purposes.
Customs Assigned Identification Number (CAIN)
A Customs Assigned Importer Number (CAIN) is required for importers who are importing into the US using a foreign IOR and do not have an EIN. AGL can apply for a CAIN on your behalf.
Value Added Tax (VAT) ID
The Value Added Tax (VAT) ID number is a unique number that identifies a taxable person (business) or non-taxable legal entity registered for VAT. A VAT number is required to import goods into the EU or UK with AGL.
Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI) number
An EORI number is a unique identifier for business entities in the EU. All businesses wishing to import into the EU must use the EORI number as an identification number in all customs procedures when exchanging information with Customs administrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has my POA been rejected?
When creating the importer of record profile, please ensure that the details provided match the business license you will upload. Also, make sure to sign the electronic POA you will receive via email. Check your mailbox and spam folder, as the link will expire if not signed on time.
How much does it cost to get started with Amazon Global Logistics?
There are no costs involved in signing up with Amazon Global Logistics. There are no subscription fees either; you just pay the transportation fees when using the service.
Does Amazon Global Logistics offer shipping services from other countries besides China, or to countries besides the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain?
Currently, Amazon Global Logistics only provides shipping services from China to the US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. We offer Ocean FCL and LCL services.
During IOR setup, who should I enter as my Non-Resident Corporate Certification (NRCC) signatory?
The Non-Resident Corporate Certification (NRCC) must be signed by another officer of your company to confirm that the officer signing the POA is authorized to do so. The NRCC signatory and POA signatory cannot be the same person unless there is only one person in your company. Names and positions for both the POA and NRCC signatory must be in English.
Why hasn't my POA and/or NRCC signatory received an e-signature email request from Amazon?
If the email address you provided for your POA and/or NRCC signatory is correct and valid, ask them to check their spam folder for the e-signature request. If they cannot locate the e-signature request in their spam folder, please create a new IOR and enter a different email address for your signatory.
Do I need to submit Customs Assigned Importer Number (CAIN) to get started with Amazon Global Logistics?
You must have an importer number – either an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or a Customs Assigned Importer Number (CAIN) – to import goods into the US. If you have an EIN or CAIN, select "Yes, the importer has an EIN or CAIN" during IOR setup and enter your EIN or CAIN in the space provided. We will then confirm the details on your behalf. If you do not have an EIN or CAIN, select "No, the importer does not have a CAIN. Request one for me" during IOR setup and we will secure a CAIN for your importer. Please note that if your company has purchased a US customs bond in the past, you will have a CAIN, even if the bond itself has expired.
I already have a continuous US customs bond. Can I still import with Amazon Global Logistics? /Can I purchase or renew a US customs bond with Amazon Global Logistics?
Amazon Global Logistics can process US imports under an existing continuous US customs bond, or you may purchase or renew a continuous US customs bond with us.
How can I correct my Non-Resident Corporate Certification (NRCC) signatory's email address?
Once submitted, POA information cannot be amended. Please create a new IOR and submit a new POA with the signatory's correct email address.
Can I share my bond with another company?
You are free to share your customs bond with other companies. However, please note that by doing so your company will also take on responsibility for the goods being imported by those other companies. This makes your company legally liable.
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How to set up IOR with POA US - Video generated with Synthesia
